State hearings planned on 'predictable work schedules'

Updated 3:34 pm, Saturday, September 9, 2017

ALBANY -- A public hearing will be convened Sept. 28 in Albany for the state Labor Department tohear comments about potential regulations to provide predictable work schedules.

On Saturday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he directed the labor commissioner to schedule the hearing -- and three others to follow in other parts of the state -- about employee scheduling concerns.

The idea is how best to address what's known as "just-in-time," "call-in" or "on-call" scheduling, where employers schedule or cancel worker shifts just hours before or even after they start.

This affects workers in retail and other service sectors and can cost them hours and pay they had already budgeted, according to the governor's statement.

In 2015, Attorney General Eric Schneiderman starting investigating retail companies that used the practice.

Companies that later agreed with Schneiderman to halt the practice have included Aeropostale, Disney, Victoria's Secret Zumiez, PacSun, Pier One, Abercrombie & Fitch, Gap (parent company of Gap, Banana Republic, and Old Navy), J.Crew, Urban Outfitters, and Bath & Body Works and Victoria's Secret (both under the parent company L Brands).

Last-minute schedules "often leave workers scrambling to find child care and force them to miss appointments, classes or important family commitments. Once finalized, these scheduling protections will apply statewide,"according to the statement from the governor's office.

Input will be gathered from workers and industry professionals before the rules are formally advanced.

The Labor Department will issue a notice identifying the specific times and locations of the hearings.